This is a study of the publications and publishing practices of
Alexander Dalrymple (1737-1808). Dalrymple was cumulatively a private
publisher of nautical charts and plans (from 1767), the ''examiner of
ships' journals'' and chart publisher for the East India Company (from
1779), and Hydrographer to the Admiralty (from 1795).
The core of the study is a catalogue of the known publications of
Alexander Dalrymple, defining and establishing his oeuvre. The
catalogue is in two parts, Catalogue A for the letterpress publications,
numbering 257, and Catalogue B for the engraved charts, plans of ports,
views of land, and other Illustrations, numbering 1116. The entries in
each part of the catalogue are arranged chronologically by date of
publication, with full bibliographical and technical descriptions, and
notes of attribution, dating and inter-relationships.
The introduction gives a short account of Dalrymple's life, focussing on
his publishing activity, and introducing his geographical and political
pamphlet publishing. Four phases of activity in his nautical publication
are identified: the decision to publish charts and memoirs from his own
voyages in the Eastern Archipelago (1769-1772); the private publication
of charts and plans with grants or subscriptions from the East India
Company (1772-1779); the annual series of charts, plans, views and
memoirs issued from 1779 onwards for the East India Company; and the
organisation and output of the Admiralty Hydrographic Office which he
ran in parallel with his East India Company work after 1795. This is
supplemented by a discussion of the continuing use made of Dalrymple's
charts after his death in 1808.
An investigation of Dalrymple's engraving and publishing practices
follows, with a brief survey of his technical leaflets and manuals on
nautical surveying and chronometer use, and an account of Oriental
Repertory, his chief non-nautical publication. The study emphasises the
close personal control Dalrymple exercised over his publications, and
the consequent problems in the Admiralty and East India Company in
developing arrangements to continue publishing charts after his death.